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INDIANAPOLIS -- A natural connection exists between Wesley Matthews and the Indiana Pacers.

The only impediment to him coming? A starting job. He got that assurance and made his first appearance Sunday for practice at St. Vincent Center.

"That’s huge," said Matthews, who'll slot into the spot vacated after Victor Oladipo's season-ending right knee injury Jan. 23. "That’s how I view myself and that’s how this organization views me. That’s big right there."

Whether he'll be ready start Monday at home against the Charlotte Hornets will be determined, but the Pacers have gained stability there as Tyreke Evans likely returns to his backup role. That'll cut into the minutes for rookie guard Aaron Holiday or Edmond Sumner.

The Pacers are on a five-game winning streak after mixing and matching their lineups during a four-game losing streak immediately following Oladipo's injury.

“He didn’t come here sit on the bench," said Pacers coach Nate McMillan, who coached Matthews on the Portland Trail Blazers. "That was part of it, being a starter. We felt we could bring him in as a starter.”

The sides appear to be a good match.

Matthews spent most of his career overlooked. He went undrafted in 2009, played at summer league for the Sacramento Kings with Evans, earned a roster spot with the Utah Jazz for one season and landed a long-term deal with the Blazers, where he stayed until 2015.

He signed a $70 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency but was traded to the New York Knicks with his deal expiring. Matthews negotiated a buyout, cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent.

Despite phone calls from the likes of Russell Westbrook and Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder), LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs) and J.J. Redick (Philadelphia 76ers), Matthews went with the Pacers, who he believes blends with his identity.

Sitting third in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, the Pacers (37-19) were an after-thought even before Oladipo's quad muscle tear.

"I saw a fit. I was really attracted to a style of play, how they always carried themselves. They play hard," Matthews said. "They don’t get as much (credit) as they should. People on the outside overlook the Pacers a lot.

"They’re dogs on the defensive end. Offensively they move the ball. They play the right way. When they got mismatches or (favorable) matchups that they like, they go at them."

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Pacers Insider J. Michael breaks down why the acquisition of Wes Matthews makes sense and it can benefit both parties.
J. Michael, IndyStar

Matthews, 32, isn't Oladipo. He's not as young or explosive going to the rim, but he has been a steady 3-point shooter (career 38.2 percent).

Doug McDermott and Matthews were both in Dallas last season for 26 games. McDermott worked out with Matthews in the offseason at the Mavericks' training facility along with Myles Turner, who is from the area, and Domantas Sabonis joined them. Aldridge, a Dallas native, was there as well.

They all know one another, with Matthews drawing comparisons to one of the Pacers' captains.

“He reminds me a lot of a guy like Thad (Young) in terms of leadership in the locker room," McDermott said. "He hangs his hat on defense, but he also really can shoot the ball. Really good guy."

"He can fit in right with what we want to do," Turner said. "That business-like mentality. He brings the right approach to the game."

To determine how valuable a player is, at least as NBA coaches see it, has nothing to do with statistics such as Matthews' 13.1-point scoring average in Dallas. It's about whether that player appears in their game plan.

"If we have to prepare for you and you have an opportunity to get a guy like that in a trade, I like that," McMillan said. "If we didn’t talk too much about you and we’re bringing you on-board, then I’m questioning what the organization is doing. We always talked about Wesley. He wants to guard the baddest guy on the floor."

The Pacers didn't make any serious moves at the trade deadline last Thursday, knowing they had a good shot at Matthews.

They'll continue to play through mismatches in the post when Young, Turner and Sabonis are defended by smalls off switches. They'll continue to go to their guards who have immobile bigs on them.

"That kind of basketball is what wins. That kind of basketball is sustainable," Matthews said. "They were on me early. That meant a lot to me. You want to feel wanted."

He's also looking at the postseason for the first time in three years.